And, while Roanoke is one of the most chilling stories from the early days of American history, it’s still surpassed by one other terrifying true tale: the story of the Salem witch trials.

The trials are one of the darkest and most famous episodes in American history, and are still remembered today as a fearsome display of what can happen when terror and uncertainty run amok.

Scroll through the gallery below to learn more about how the frightening events of the witch trials reallyunfolded — and the strange substance that may have set off the very first accusations of witchcraft.